The Oconomowoc Common Council gives a preliminary OK to allow guns in Oconomowoc parks.

The Oconomowoc Common Council gives a preliminary OK to allow guns in Oconomowoc parks.

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Updated: 11:11 PM CDT May 20, 2014

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WEBVTT NEW AT TEN... THAT MOM POSTED THIS PICTURE TO FACEBOOK--- BECAUSE SHE WANTED GUNS OUT OF PARKS--- BUT TONIGHT--- THE LAW MAY BE CHANGED IN OCONOMOWOC SO THAT THEY STAY. 12 NEWS CHRISTINA PALLADINO IS LIVE-- CHRISTINA --- THE DEBATE GOT EMOTIONAL AT CITY HALL TONIGHT. 3 YEAR OLD PARKER KARENZ WAS ABOUT TO GO DOWN THE SLIDE HERE AT ROOSEVELT PARK'S IMAGINATION STATION WHEN HIS PARENTS SNAPPED A PHOTO. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT HAS CREATED CONTROVERSY -- DEATH-THREATS-- AND A HEATED DISCUSSION AT CITY HALL TONIGHT. MANY PARENTS IN OCONOMOWOC ENJOYED THE WARM, SPRING AIR TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND TOOK THEIR CHILDREN TO ROOSEVELT PARK. BUT A RECENT INCIDENT OF A GUN THERE IS CAUSING A FIRESTORM IN THE COMMUNITY. "THIS IS A PLACE FOR CHILDREN THIS IS NOT A PLACE FOR A HANDGUN OR A SHOT-GUNTHAT SCARES ME." PARENTS ARE DIVIDED OVER THIS PICTURE OF HEATHER KARENZ'S 3- YEAR OLD SON PARKER--- GOING DOWN THE SLIDE--- BEHIND HIM YOU CAN SEE A MAN WITH A GUN ON HIS HOLSTER. HEATHER--POSTED THE PHOTO SHE TOOK ONLINE QUESTIONING THE MAN'S JUDGEMENT. SINCE THEN--IT'S GONE VIRAL--EVEN CAUSING THE COMMON COUNCIL TO AMEND THEIR FIREARMS ORDINANCE. HEATHER SAYS THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT KEEPING HER CHILD SAFE--BUT NOW SHE'S GETTING DEATH THREATS. "THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF NEGATIVE FEEDBACK- THREATS HAVE BEEN MADE AGAINST ME AND MY SON." HEATHER TOLD CITY LEADERS TUESDAY NIGHT SHE NEVER INTENDED TO UPSET GUN OWNERS. MANY WERE SPLIT OVER THE ISSUE--- BUT ULTIMATELY THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS OF AMENDING THE ORDINANCE SO FIREARMS ARE ALLOWED AT CITY PARKS AS LONG AS THE PERSON HAS A PERMIT. "WE ARE JUST LOOKING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CONFORMING TO THE STATE'S STATUES, AND THAT'S WHAT PROPER AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO ENFORCE." THE CONTROVERSIAL MEASURE HAS ITS SUPPORTERS TOO. "I THINK IT'S GREATYOU NEVER KNOW WHERE DANGER IS, I MEAN IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, MY HUSBAND IS IN THE AIRFORCE AND IT HAPPENS ON BASES." IN TWO WEEKS THE COMMON COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO VOTE THE ORDINANCE INTO LAW. THE POLICE CHIEF SAYS THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE MAN IN THE PICTURE.

Facebook photo sparks Oconomowoc gun debate

The Oconomowoc Common Council gives a preliminary OK to allow guns in Oconomowoc parks.